yet may the rest compared amongst themselues be ranged in a certaine order as the Second Third Fourth Fifth and so along till we come againe to the First being in all reduced to the number of 180 answering to 360 Degrees as wee haue taught So much for the Meridians 11 The Parallels are equidistant Circles passing from the East to the West directly I haue defined the Parallell Circles in a larger sense then former Geographers vsually haue taken it in as willing vnder this generall name not onely to include the Parallels commonly so called but also the Equatour because I see no reason why the Equatour being euery where equidistant from each other Circle should not suffer this acception The common sort of Cosmographers vnder this name would onely comprize the minor Circles which are conceiued to bee equally distant and correspondent to the Equinoctiall Circle so that all should bee so called in respect of the Equatour to whom they are said to answer not in site and position for as much as they decline from the middle of the Earth to the North and South but in Comparison and Proportion for as the Equatour is drawne from East to West and diuides the whole Spheare of the Earth into the North and South Hemispheares So the other also diuide the Globe of the Earth though not into two equall parts as the Equatour but vnequall These Parallels many wayes are distingushed from the Meridians first because the Meridians are drawne directly from North to South but the Parallels from East to West Secondly the Meridians how many soeuer they are imagined to bee concurre and meete all in the Poles of the Earth whereas the Parallels howsoeuer drawne out at length will neuer concurre or meete in any point Whence it must needes follow that all Parallels and Meridians in the Globe must cut one the other and make right angles These Parallels although infinite in number may bee in the Spheare reduced to the number of the Meridians because they are drawne through the opposite points and degrees of the Meridian Semi-circle which would make vp the number of 180 but yet for Conueniency they haue not painted so many in the face of the Artificiall Spheare for as much as so many lines and circles might beget Confusion Wherefore Ptolomy and the Ancients haue distinguished the Parallels on both sides the Equator North and South with such a Distance that where the day should increase one quarter of an houre a new Parallel should be placed So that the longest day of one Parallell should surpasse the longest day of another for one quarter of an houre By which appeares that the Parallels are not of one greatnesse but by how much neerer the Pole they are placed so much lesse are they and so much greater by how much farther off from the Poles and neerest the Equatour These Circles are of great vse in Geographie as to distinguish the Zone Climats and Latitudes of Regions to shew the Eleuation of the Pole and to designe out the length and shortnesse of the day in any part of the Earth 12 A Parallell Circle is of two sorts either greater or lesser The greater is the Equatour or equinoctiall Circle 13 The Equatour is the greatest of the Parallels passing through the middest of the Earth and exactly diuiding them from the Poles into two equall halfes or Hemispheares whereof the one is North the other South This Circle is called the Equatour or Equinoctiall of Astronomers because that when the Sunne passeth vnder it as vpon the 11 of March and the 13 of September it makes the Day and Night equall This Circle of Astronomers is esteemed the most notable being the measure of the Diurnall and most regular Motions The Laâ—ines haue taken the name and appellation of this Circle from the Day as the Greeks from the Night Wherein the Sense is no way varyed because the equality of the Day argues the like equality of the Night The two Poles of the Circle are the same with the Poles of the Vniuersall Earth to wit the Articke or North-Pole and the Antarticke and Southerne Pole whereof the former is alwayes conspicuous in our Horizon the other lies couched and hidde from our Sight It is called the Articke-pole from the Constellation of the little Beare in the Heauens neere to the which it is situated in opposition to the which the other is called Antarticke It hath manifold vse in Astronomy copiously by Astronomers And no lesse in Geography for without this Equinoctiall Circle no Description of the Earth can be absolute perfect neither any Citie or Place in the Terrestriall Globe or Mappe set in his due and proper place This Equinoctiall Circle in regard of the Earth passeth through the middle-most part almost of Africa by Ethiopia America and Taprobana So that it exactly diuideth the Globe of the Earth into two halfes the Northerne and Southerne Hemispheares so that these people which dwell vnder the Equatour are said to inhabite the middle of the world because they incline neither to the North nor to the South hauing so much distance from the Articke Antarticke-Pole of the Earth Moreouer by this Circle as wee will declare hereafter are noted out vnto vs the East and West part of the Spheare no way to be neglected of Geographers 1 Concerning the Equatour two things are to be obserued either the Inuention or the Site and Position The Inuention is either Astronomicall or Magneticall The Astronomicall according to these Rules 1 The Meridian being found out to find the Equator This is easily performed by the helpe of the former Figure for therein the Meridian line being found out as we haue shewed let there bee drawne by the Center E of that Circle the line AC making right Angles with the said Meridian which line AC will bee the true Equatour and will point out vnto vs the true East and West as A the East and C the West Whence it appeares that the two lines to wit of the Equatour and the Meridian doe diuide and cut the whole Horizon into two equall Quadrants 2 Without the helpe of the Meridian to find out the Equatour In the time of either Equinoctiall in some Horizontall plaine in the Sunne-shine let there bee erected a Gnomon then in the day time let there bee noted all the points by which the end or top of the shadow hath passed for all those points in the time of Equinoctiall are in a right line because then the end of the shadow is carried in a line in the time of the Equinox in a Herizontall plaine This line will bee the true Equinoctiall-line the cause is giuen by Clauius in Gnomonicis lib. 1. prop. 1. Corollar 2. which depending on many Geometricall and Astronomicall principles as too far from my purpose I omit 15 The Magneticall inuention of the Equatour is wrought by the Magneticall Inclinatory Needle according to this Proposition 1 Wheresoeuer at any place of the Terrestriall
are imagined two circles on the earth which wee also call Polar and if wee beleeue Gilbert with other Magneticall Philosophers they are primarily in the Earth as that which is the true subiect of diurnall motion These circles thus described by the Pole of the Eclipticke must needs challenge the same distance from the Pole which the Pole of the Eclipticke hath to wit 23. Degrees and 30 Minutes The Greeks haue taken the Polar circles in another sense then the Latines for by these Polar circles as it appeares by Proclus and Cleomedes they vnderstand not such circles as are described by the Pole of the Zodiacke but two other circles whereof the one is greatest of all the Parallels which alwayes appeares aboue our Horizon the other is the greatest of all those Parallels which lie hid in our Horizon perpetually The reason why the Graecians tooke it in this sense was because by these circles they could know and distinguish those stars which alwayes are seene and neuer set as those which are comprehended of the Articke circle from those which alwayes lie hidde and neuer rise as such as the Antarticke containes Whence it manifestly appeares that the two Polar circles as they are taken of the Graecians in all Regions are not of the same quantity greatnesse but are greater in oblique Spheare then in a right but our Polar circles are at all places alike in their quantity Of these the one tearmed Articke in the Earth passeth by Islandia the top of Norway and Finland with many adioyning Ilands and the Southerne part of Green-land as may appeare by our ordinary Geographicall Mappes The other Polar circle called Antarticke passeth through the South part of the world as yet vndiscouered except for some few parcels as Terra del Feugo and Psiitacorum Regio with somewhat more lately discouered by the Spaniards The chiefest vse as well of these as other parallels is to distinguish the Zones and Climates in the Globe whereof wee shall haue occasion to treate hereafter 21 The Namelesse Parallels are such as are not knowne by speciall Names nor of so great vse in Geographie These namelesse parallels may bee well vnderstood by that which we haue aboue spoken for howsoeuer they bee not called by particular and speciall names yet are they all of the same nature All these parallels beside the Equatour though infinite in number may notwithstaÌ„ding in the spheare be reduced to the number of the Meridians because they are drawne through the opposite points of the Meridian semicircle so that wee might account 180 but yet there are not so many painted on the face of the Artificiall Globe wherefore Ptolomy with the ancients haue distinguished the parallels on both sides North and South beginning from the Equatour at such a distance that where the day should increase one quarter of an houre a new parallell should be placed so that the longest day of one parallell should exceed the longest day of another parallell by one quarter of an houre Euery one of these parallels is supposed to be diuided into 360 Degrees as all the rest of the other circles yet are we to note that the degrees and parts of a greater circle are greater of the lesser lesse according to the proportion of the said circle the same haue the proportion that a great circle hath to a lesse so that the same degrees and parts of a quarter circle to the degrees and parts of the lesser as may be gathered from the first proposition of the second booke of Theodosius now to know rightly this proportion we must first finde out the summary declination for euery region which being once found we may proceed in this manner by the doctrine of Triangles 1 Let the signe of the Complement of the Declination of the lesser Circle bee multiplied by the whole Circle and the product bee diuided by the totall signe there will arise the number of Degrees of the lesser Circle such as whereof the greater consists The reason hereof is shewed in Geometry and therefore need we not to insert a demonstration for there we learne that as the totall â—inge is to the signe of the CoÌ„plement of the Declination of any Parallell so is the Periphery of the greater circle to the Periphery of the Parallell As for example if we would know what proportion the Equatour hath to the Parallell which passeth by the Verticall point of Rome whose Declination is about 42 Degrees I multiply the signe of the Complement of this Declination that is the signe of 48 Degrees to wit 74314 by 360 the product whereof is 26753040 which I diuide agayne by 100000 and find 267 degrees and ½ whence I gather that the Equatour to the Parallell of Rome or a degree of the Equatour to a degree of the Parallell of Rome hath the same proportion that that 360 hath to 276 ½ which is the same that 4 hath to 3. 22 Hitherto haue we spoken of the Absolute Circles such as are the Meridians and Parallels wee are to treate in the last place of a Relatiue Circle which is conceiued in respect to our sight this Circle is called the Horizon 23 The Horizon is a Circle which diuides the vpper and visible parts of the Terrestriall Globe from the lower and inuisible The name of the Horizon is taken from the bounding or termination of the sight because it is a Circle comprehending all that space which is visible of vs distinguishing it from the rest which lurkes inuisible as if a man should bee placed in a high and eminent place of the Earth and should looke round about him euery way to the East West North and South Hee will seeme to see the heauens on euery side to concurre with the earth so that beyond it can be seene nor heauen nor earth which concurrence of the heauens with the earth will describe vnto vs the Horizontall Circle for that place assigned But here wee are to note that the Horizon is two fold either the Rationall or Sensible Horizon The Rationall precisely diuides the Globe into two equall parts But the sensible or apparent Horizon is no other then that Circle in the earth which is designed out by the sight from which the name seemes to bee deriued This sensible Horizon differs from the rationall diuers wayes first because the rationall diuides the whole spheare into two equall parts but the sensible into two vnequall parts Secondly because the rationall is alwayes certaine and the same in the same place and of alike greatnesse whereas the other is greater or lesser for the condition of the place or sight for the semidiameter of the rationall is the same with the semidiameter of the earth but the semidiameter of the other seldome or neuer exceeds 60 miles on the Earth Thirdly because the rationall Horizon passeth by the Center of the Earth whereas the sensible toucheth onely the surface of it in that point where the Inhabitant standeth all which differences may bee
find it betwixt the two Tropicks we may without doubt thinke it to be in the Torrid Zone If betwixt the Tropicke circle and the Polar it will be in the Temperate If betwixt the Polar circle and the Pole it selfe it must bee in the cold Zone By the Tables of Latitude it may be found this way Seeke the latitude of the places giuen in the Table which if it bee lesse then 23 degrees 30 scruples the place is in the Torrid Zone If precisely it bee so much in the Northerne Hemispheare the place assigned is vnder the Tropicke of Cancer which is the bound betwixt the Torrid and the beginning of the Northerne Temperate Zone But if it be in the Southerne Hemispheare it will be vnder the Tropicke of Capricorne which ends the Torrid Zone and beginnes the South Temperate Zone Euery place hauing more Latitude then 23 degrees 30 scruples yet lesse then 66 degrees 30 Minutes is seated in the Temperate Zone either Northerne or Southerne as the places are in the Hemispheare If the place be precisely of 66 Degrees 30 minutes it will be iustly found to be vnder the Polar circle either Arcticke or Antarcticke Finally euery place whose Latitude exceeds the number of 66 degrees 30 minutes is seated in the cold Zone either Southerne or Northerne If it reach iust to 90 degrees it will bee iust vnder the Pole it selfe 9 Of the distinction of the Terrestriall Spheare by Zones we haue spoken we must in the next place deliuer the Distinction of the earth according to Climates 10 A Climate is a space of the Earth contained betwixt two Parallels distant from the Equatour towards either Pole Climates are so called because of their Declaration from Equatour for as much as they are to bee accounted as so many scales of ascents to or from the Equatour Some haue defined it from the vse which is chiefly to distinguish the longest time of the Artificiall day because at the point of euery climate truely taken the longest day is varied halfe an houre although this account agree not altogether with Ptolomie and the ancient Geographers before him as wee shall shew hereafter This distinction of the Terrestriall Spheare into Climates is somewhat a more subtile distinction then the former by Zones for as much as that is made by the combination of such Parallels as are principally named and of chiefe note as the Tropicks and Polar circles But this indifferently respects all without difference This first beginning and measure as well of this as all other measures of the earth is the Equatour for that which is most perfect and absolute in euery kinde ought to be the measure of all other But yet wee must vnderstand that although wee beginne our account of the Climats from the Equatour yet the Equatour it selfe makes no Climate but only the Parallels which are thereunto correspondent For as it is before shewed vnder the Equatour it selfe the artificiall dayes are all equall in length containing only twelue houres wherefore beginning from the Equatour betwixt that and the third Parallell wee count the first climate from the third to the sixt the second Climate and so all the rest making the number of the Climates double to the number of the Parallels so that one and the selfe same Parallell which is the end and bound of one Climate is the beginning of the next whence wee see that to the constitution of euery Climate three Parallels concurre whereof two are extreame comprehending the bredth of the said Climate and one diuiding it iust in the midst A Parallell therefore differs from a Climate as a part from the whole being one circle correspondent to the Equatour whereas a Climate is a space contained in three Parallels Secondly as a Parallell is conceaued to adde to the artificiall day one quarter or fourth part of an houre so a Climate makes halfe an houre so that by how much any Climate is distant from the Equatour by so many halfe houres the longest day of that Climate goes beyond the longest day of the place vnder the Equatour These Climates therefore cannot bee all of one equall quantity because the Equatour is a greater circle and comprehends the greatest space in the Earth so that it must needs follow that these Climates neere the Equatour being made by the combination of greater circles are greater then those neerer the Poles But because all Climates are made by the combination of Parallels wee are to vnderstand that there are three sort of Parallels to bee knowne in Cosmographie The first are those which doe distinguish the latitude of places taking their beginning from the Equatour and are in an ordinary Globe of Mappe distinguished sometimes by 10 sometimes by 15 degrees The second kinde of Parallels are those that make the Zones which are indeed some speciall named Parallels as the Tropicks and the Polar circles The third sort are called Artificiall Parallels because they shew the distances of artificiall dayes and nights which are commonly noted in the margent of a Geographicall Mappe which last sort of Parallels are here chiefly to be vnderstood 1 The Zones and Climates agree in forme but differ in greatnesse number and office The Climates are so called as we haue said because they decline from the Equatour and are spaces of the Earth containing two Parallells in which the longest day is varied by halfe an houre These agree with the Zones in some sort for both of them are spread by the latitude of the Earth and by Parallell circles compasse it about as so many girdles Neuerthelesse they differ one from the other 1. In Greatnesse because the Zones are greater the Climates lesser spaces in the Earth 2. In Number because there are only fiue Zones but many more climates 3. In Office vse and effect because the Zones are to distinguish the mutation of the quality of the aire and shaddowes according to diuerse Regions of the Earth but the Climates are vsed to shew the greatest differences of houres in the day to shew the variation of the rising and setting of the starres for places vnder the same Climate haue the same quantity of dayes and nights the same rising and setting of the starres whereas places seated vnder diuerse climats haue a great variation in the dayes and nights and a diuerse rising and setting of the stars for as often as the longest or Solsticiall day of one place differs from the longest day of another by the space of halfe an houre a new Climate is placed wherefore vnder the Equatour or middle part of the earth the dayes are alwayes equall to wit of 12 houres which beginning from the Equatour if wee approach towards either Pole so far as the greatest artificiall day amounts to 12 ½ we may assure our selues that wee are come to the first Climate and so forward still the greatest day of our Climate will by so much exceed the greatest day of the other As the Climates differ one from the other
by halfe houres so the Parallels by quarters as we haue shewed and shall more fully explaine in this Chapter 2 The Climates compared one with the other are not all of the same greatnesse Although the Climates are placed according to equall increase of dayes and nights yet suffer they a great inequality For no clime is equall to another in the same Hemispheare but are still greater then other by how much neerer they are to the Equinoctiall circle for the latitude of the first Climate is reckned to be about 8 degrees which make 480 Italian-miles but of the last not so many minutes as quarters of miles 11 In Terrestriall Climates two things are to be vnderstood 1 The Inuention 2 The Distinction The Inuention teacheth the manner how to find out in what Climate any place lieth The finding out of any climate depends vpon the obseruation of the length of the day for the length of the day being once known the Climate will also bee found out by this Rule 1 Double the houres aboue 12 and the Product will shew the Climate The reason of this rule is intimated before to wit that the climates are distinguished the one from the other by the space of halfe an houre of the longest day Now the dayes vnder the equatour are alwayes equall containing 12 houres in length from which towards the Pole they are increased by degrees wherefore the number of the Climates must needs bee double to the number of houres aboue 12 as for example if I should find out in what Climate England is situated I find the length of the longest day to be about 18 houres which is six houres more then 12 this I double and it will be 12 whence I collect that England is situated vnder the 12 Climate A more compendious way of finding out the Climate of any place is by a certaine Table wherein against euery Eleuation of the Pole is set the iust Climate which Table we shall insert hereafter Here must bee noted that this rule which wee haue taught is to bee vnderstood of the Climates as they are absolute in nature and not of Ptolomies Climates If any man would finde out the Climates of Ptolomie hee must first cast away three quarters of an houre which is 45 minutes because his Climates as wee shall shew beginne not immediatly from the Equatour but from the latitude of 12 degrees 12 Thus much for the Inuention the Distinction of Climates in Northerne and Southerne Climates both these againe are of two sorts either proper or improper 13 The proper Climates are those which are placed between the Equatour and the point neere the Polar circle The improper are those from the Polar circle to the Pole it selfe Wee must vnderstand that the climates are considered two manner of wayes 1 Absolutely in respect of the whole Terrestriall Spheare 2 Comparatiuely in respect of the knowne habitable part of the Earth According to the latter consideration the ancient Geographers haue otherwise distinguished the Climates then the new writers whence ariseth a great difference and confusion amongst them in defining the number of the climates For sometime they will haue a new climat put whensoeuer the day increaseth a quarter of an houre sometimes at halfe an houre sometimes at difference of an whole houre or day But the doubt is easily answered and reconciled by our former distinction for whereas they put the difference of climates to be halfe an houre it is to be vnderstood of these which are proper climates betwixt the Equatour and the Polar circle for it is certaine that beyond this circle the artificiall day increaseth not only by houres but by dayes weeks months so that another account must bee made of such climats then of the former But it hath been generally taken for those climates of the Ancients now the distinction of climates amongst the Ancients is of two sorts The first was of the Geographers before Ptolomy who placed the vttermost bound Northward in the 25th degree of Latitude or Eleuation and so made only seuen climates These 7 climates were all vnderstood to bee in the habitable parts wherein they were marked and designed out vnto vs by names taken from Citties Mountaines Regions and such like remarkable places where we are to conceaue that climate as neere as may bee guessed to runne through the middle of any such Region whereof it taketh its name But the better to vnderstand the Distinction of the climates as well with the Ancient as Moderne Cosmographers we will insert this following Theorem 1 In the placing and Number of the Climates and Parallels there is a great diuersity betwixt the Ancient and Moderne Geographers This hath been before mentioned but for better distinction we haue reserued the handling of these differences to this proposition which may serue as a Carollary to the rest First wee take it as granted that Ptolomy so appointed the Parallells out of which the climates must arise that he numbred 38 both wayes from the Equatour to wit 38 towards the South and so many towards the North. These Parallels he so distinguished that 24 he numbred by quarters of houres foure by halfe houres foure by whole houres and six by whole months Hence is it that Geographers say that a new Parallell is to be placed sometimes whereas the longest day increaseth by a quarter of an houre sometimes where it increaseth by a halfe sometimes by a whole houre sometimes by a whole moneth The first is to be vnderstood of those 24 Parallels which were deliuered by the Ancients before Ptolomy The second third and fourth of such as were vnknowne vnto those Ancients before Ptolomy To reduce all into order we will set downe this distinction The distinction of the Climats is either ancient or new The Ancient was againe twofold either former or latter The former was that which was set downe before Ptolomies times wherein there were assigned seuen Climates according to the common opinion though Mercator grants but 5 These Authours placed their Northerne bound in the 25 degrees or eleuation The later distinction was almost the same but somewhat corrected by Ptolomy who placed 9 Climates towards the North. The first passed by Meroe a Citty of Ethiopia where the longest or Solstitiall day is 13 houres The second by Siene in Egypt where the longest day is 13 ½ The third by Alexandria in Egypt where the longest day is 14 houres the 4th by the Iland of Rhodes where the longest day is of 14 ½ The fift by Rome where they haue the length of the longest day 15 houres The sixt by Pontus where the longest day is 15 ½ houres The seauenth by the mouth of Boristhenes where the longest day is of 16 houres Neuerthelesse some haue drawne the 6 Climate by Boristhenes in Sarmatia and the seauenth by the Riphaean mountaines Ptolomy to this number addes two more and so reckons them that the 8 should passe by the Riphaean mountaines and the 9 by Denmarke where the day at
longest is 17 houres To these Northerne Climats they opposed so many towards the South which they called Anticlimates These as it should seeme in Ptolomiâ—s time were Imaginary altogether because few or no places were discouered at that time beyond the Line But to leaue Pâ—olomy and his old Authors and examine the industry of later Geographers wee shall finde the Distinction of the Climates to bee twofold either vnperfect wherein they numbred onely 19 Climates or perfect wherein they accounted 46 or 48 of which 23 or 24 were Northerne and the other on the opposite part to wit in the South The perfect distinction of the Climates is againe as later writers speake either certaine or vncertaine The certaine they call that wherein the Climates are distinguished and ranged from the Equatour to the Polar circle For sithens the Northerne Regions are now discouered beyond 70 degrees of the Eleuation of the Pole and a Climate is defined to bee a space comprehended betwixt three Parallels in the habitable Earth wherein the length of the longest day is increased by halfe an houre Therefore it must needs be that from the Equatour to that habitable part of the Earth wherein the longest day is 24 houres which is not farre from the Pole-circle there should be placed 24 Climates The vncertaine distinction they call that which is betwixt the Polar circle and the Pole it selfe which may bee tearmed Improper because in these Climates the day is not increased by halfe houres as in the former but first by whole Dayes then by Weâ—kes and last of all by whole Moneths In so much that vnder the Pole it selfe they haue 6 Moneths perpetuall day and so long againe a continuâ—ll night The Parallels whereof the Climates are made were set downe by Ptolomie 38 as wee haue said but the later writers haue placed them so farre Northernly that they reach to that tract wherein the Sunne tarries aboue the Horizon a whole 24 houres and so haue numbred 23 or 24 towards the North and so many towards the South The cause of this diuersity is because some draw the first by the mouth of the Redde-Sea others by Meroe for the farther consideration of these climates corrected by later Goegraphers they beginne their account from the Equatour it selfe which in this case is the best rule of certainty because we hold that whole tract of Earth to bee habitable as we shall proue in our second booke 14 A Parallell is a space wherein the longest day is increased by a quarter of an houre Concerning the Parallels little can be said more then were haue opened in the doctrine of the Climats for as we shewed the one cannot be well vnderstood without the other only to auoid ambiguity of speech wee must consider that a Parallell may bee taken either for a Line or Circle in which senfe wee tooke it in the fift Chapter where we diuided them into Named or Namelesse or else for a space bounded by circles as wee here vnderstand it The neglect of this distinction hath made some Geographers speake sometimes improperly The Parallell is found out by this rule 1 Let the number of the longest day aboue 12 be multiplied by 4 and the Product will shew the Parallell The reason is giuen before in the doctrine of the Climates because the Parallell space according to Latitude is but halfe the Climate so that as in finding out the climate for any place wee ought to double the houres of the longest day aboue 12 so here wee ought to quadruple them which is to multiply them by 4 As for example at Rome we finde the longest day to be about 15 which exceeds 12 by 3 which being againe multiplied by 4 will produce 12 which is the Parallell for the place 2 The Parallels no where diuide the Climats into two equall parts In the climates wee are to consider two things either their latitude or bredth from North to South or their longitude or extent from East to West In respect of the former wee may hardly without sensible errour call the Parallell halfe the Climate in regard the three lines whereof the climate consists to wit the middle and the two extreames are not alwaies of like distance but if we consider the extent of the Circumference as is stretcheth i selfe betwixt East and West we must needes acknowledge much more to wit that of two Parallels diuiding the same climate betwixt them that that is manifestly the greatest which is next the Equatour and that is the least which is neerest to the Pole because the Circles which comprehend their Parallell spaces continually decrease towards the Pole so that if we imagine two men to trauell round about the earth the one in a Parallell neerer the Equatour the other neerer the Pole in the same space of time it must needs follow that he should goe far faster which is neerer the Equatour then the other neere the Pole for howsoeuer Columella seemes to make a Parallell to haue in bredth 60 foot and to intimate by consequence an equality of the Parallels amongst themselues yet must this bee vnderstood of Parallels which are neere one to the other neerer the Equatour which comprehend a great space of land and admit no sensible difference Other matters which concerne the Climates and Parallells shall be God willing vnfolded in our Tables in the next Chapter when we haue spoken of the Inhabitants and such other adiuncts appertaining without the which this treatise will be vnperfect depending for a great part on such circumstances as our method admits not in this place but immediatly follow CHAP. X. Of the distinction of the Inhabitants of the Terrestriall Spheare 1 HAuing hitherto treated of the distinction of spaces bounded by circles in the Terrestriall Globe to wit Zones Climates and Parallels wee are now to treate of the Inhabitants as such adiuncts as properly belong to such spaces so farre as it concernes the constitution of the whole Spheare 2 The distinction of the Inhabitants is twofold either Absolute or Comparatiue Absolute as they may be considered in themselues without any comparison of one with the other 3 The former is againe twofold either from the Position of the Spheare or the differences of their Sun-Shadowes According to the position of the Spheare the Inhabitants may be said to haue either a Right Oblique or Parallell Spheare according to their Horizons What these three Spheares are may appeare by that which we haue formerly spoken concerning the distinction of Horizons in the sixt Chapter of this Treatise and therefore needs no farther repetition we are in this place to treat of the seuerall accidents and conditions of the Inhabitants Out of the distinction of the threefold Spheare will arise 13 manners of habitation which for more order sake wee will reduce into certaine heads in this manner 4 The people of a right Spheare are such as inioy aright Horizon whose proprieties shall be declared in this Theoreme 1
The Inhabitants of a Right Spheare in respect of the heauens haue the same accidents These accidents are chiefly foure 1 They inioy a perpetuall Equinoctiall hauing their dayes and nights alwayes equall the one to the other because the Sunne neuer swaruing from his Eclipticke hath his course equally diuided by the Horizon 2 With them all the starres equally set and rise because all the Parallels wherein the starres make their Diurnall Reuolution are equally cut of the Horizon 3 To them the Sunne is twice in the yeere verticall that is directly ouer their heads and twice againein the yeere Solstitiall The former in the first degrees of Aries and Libra the latter in the first degrees of Cancer and Capricorne which diuerse propositions of the Sunne some later Geographers haue tearmed foure Solstices two higher and two lower 4 Hence comes it to passe that they yeerely enioy two winters and two Summers likewise two springs and two Autumnes Their Summer when the Sunne is to them verticall their winter when it is seated in either of the Tropicks Their Spring and Autumnes while the Sunne is passing through the middle spaces betwixt both 5 The people inhabiting an Oblique Spheare are such whose Horizon is oblique The proprieties belonging vnto them are either Generall or Speciall 6 The Generall are such as agree to all those which inhabit an oblique Spheare 1 All the Inhabitants of an oblique Spheare agree in two proprieties These two proprieties wherein they agree are these 1 To all the Inhabitants without the Equatour vnder what Parallell soeuer the dayes are equall to the nights only twice in a yeere to wit either in the beginning of the Spring or the beginning of the Autumne At other times either the dayes increase aboue the nights as in the Summer or grow lesser as in the winter 2 To these inhabitants some stars are perpetually seene as such which are neere the Pole to which they incline some are neuer seene as such as are farthest off from the said Pole some rise and set which are those which are in the middle space betwixt both which are sometimes visible and sometime lie hid 7 The speciall Accidents of an Oblique Horizon are such as agree to speciall places in the same Spheare 1 The Inhabitants of an Oblique Spheare of fiue sorts inioying so many correspondent properties The first sort are of those whose Zenith is betwixt the Equator and one of the Tropickes euen vnto the 23. Degrees 30. Scruples of eleuation of the Pole In such a sort towards the North betwixt the Line and the Tropicke of Cancer are placed the inhabitants of Zeilan the extreame part of the East Indies Hispaniola Guinea Nubia with some part of Arabia foelix and all other places betwixt the Equatour and the Tropicke of Cancer in the Torride Zone Towards the South in the same Latitude are placed the Brasilians the Peruuians the Iauans with many others The Accidents which happen vnto these Nations are these 1. They may see all the starres except a few which are neere the Pole 2. Their dayes and nights are somewhat vnequall so that their longest day or longest night is not alway of the same quantity 3. Twice in the yeare they haue the Sunne-verticall but without the Equatour 4. They haue two Summers and two Winters but not equally tempered 5. The length of their longest day reacheth to 13. ½ houres The second sort are such as inhabite vnder the Tropicke it selfe whose eleuation of the Pole is equall to the greatest declination of the Sunne which is 23. degrees 30 Scruples Vnder the Tropicke of Cancer is placed a great part of Arabia foelix East India the Southerne parts of China the higher parts of Egypt and Siene Vnder the Tropicke of Capricorne are placed the people of Monomotapa and Madagascar with other places The accidents belonging vnto them are these 1. To them appeare all the starres comprehended in one of the circles but none of the other As for example to those inhabiting the Tropicke of Cancer the starres included within the Articke Circle alwayes appeare but neuer those which are in the Antarcticke likewise to those which dwell vnder the Tropicke of Capricorne all the starres appeare which are contained within the Antarticke Circle but none of those included within the Articke Circle 2. By how much neerer the Sunne approacheth to their Zenith or Verticall point by so much are their dayes lengthened and by how much farther it goes off by so much are they shortned so that they inioy then their longest day when the Sunne directly passeth by their Zenith 3. To them the Sunne is verticall but once in the yeere to wit to those vnder the Tropicke of Cancer when the Sunne enters into the signe as to the other when it toucheth the first Degree of Capricorne 4. They haue but one Summer and one Winter throughout the yeere The third sort are such inhabitants as dwell in one of the temperate Zones betwixt the Tropicke and the Polar Circles from 24. Degrees of eleuation to 66. Degrees 30. Scruples Such inhabitants towards the North are as wee haue shewed almost all the inhabitants of Europe Asia maior and part of Africa as on the other side towards the South the Chylienses the farthermost Africans and those that dwell neere the straits of Magellane Their properties are chiefly these 1. Many starres are by them alwayes seene and many neuer appeare 2. Their dayes notably differ in inequality 3. The sunne neuer arriues at their Zenith but is alwayes on the South of those which inhabite betwixt the Tropicke of Cancer and the Articke Circle and alwayes on the North side of such as dwell in the opposite temperate Zone 4. They haue in the yeere but one Summer and Winter but by reason of the diuersity of places much vnequall for where the eleuation of the Pole is greater the winter is much harder but where it is lesser it is more temperate The fourth kinde of inhabitants are those which reside vnder the Polar Circle which is their Zenith where the temperate Zone endes and the cold beginnes where the eleuation of the Pole is beyond 66. Degrees 30. Minutes in which Tract lies Noua Zembla with many other Ilands not yet well discouered in the North and perhaps as many more vnder the Antarticke Circle towards the South lesse knowne than the other The accidents belonging to them are these 1. Those which inhabite vnder the Arcticke Circle see all the starres included within the Tropicke of Cancer but neuer those within the Tropicke of Capricorne Likewise those which liue vnder the Antarcticke Circle see all the starres within the Tropicke of Capricorne but neuer those within the other Tropicke of Cancer 2. Their longest day at Midsummer is 24. houres their night then being but a moment likewise their longest night as at Mid-winter is but 24. houres their day passing not a moment 3. The Center of the Sunne euery yeere twice toucheth at their Horizons 4. The
and contrariwise from East to West The bounds or limits of this Longitude were by Ptolomie and the ancient Cosmographers set no farther distant then the halfe circle containing 180 degrees because the rest of the Earth lay at that time vndiscouered The end of this space towards the East was the Kingdome of China at the farthest part of all India distant as wee said from the Fortunate Ilands where Ptolomie placed the first Meridian 180 degrees which being taken in the Meridian and resolued into Miles according to our former rules will giue 10800 Italian miles but this space delineated out by the Ancients was very scant and narrow in respect of the other parts since found out being added to the former For beyond the bound set by Ptolomie in the East it is manifest that 60 degrees are found out and made knowne An example whereof wee haue in Scythia withouâ— the mountaine Emaus which is knowne to extend it selfe 60 degrees Eastward towards the Kingdome of Cathay discouered by the Portugals so that the breadth of the Earth Eastward is fully knowne so farre as 240 degrees which being measured in the Equatour will amount vnto 14000 miles Moreouer towards the West beyond the Fortunate Ilands it is knowne to stretch to the farthest border of America so that 340 degrees of the earth is fully detected if not all the rest being only 20 degrees which are only deficient to make vp the whole circle Which wee may the sooner credit because our times haue brought forth for ought any Authors haue related the most excellent Nauigators of all ages which haue sayled the vast Globe of the Earth round about and left behinde them a foundation whereon others might easily build But to let passe the Generall Longitude of the Earth betwixt the East and the West Wee must vnderstand that the Longitude here mentioned is to bee taken in a more speciall sense for the Distance of any place from the first Meridian being placed either in the Canaries as the Ancients would haue it or in one of the Azores according to the latter Geographers This then must be the bound from whence wee must beginne our account The subiect wherein the number of degrees may bee taken may bee the Equatour or Parallell Whence by some the Longitude of a place is defined to bee an Arch of the Equatour or Parallell intercepted betwixt the first Meridian and the verticall point of the place proposed so that by necessary consequence such places as are subiect to the same Meridian in the same Hemispheare Easterne or Westerne haue the same Longitude which is the distance from the point of the West but places declining more towards the East haue the greater Longitude but neerer to the West lesâ—e 1 Places inioying the same Longitude are not alwayes equally distant from the first Meridian and contrarywise places equidistant from the first Meridian haue not alwayes the same Longitude The reason is euident out of that which hath beene often spoken before because the degrees of a greater circle are greater of a lesser lesse according to the greatnesse of the circle Now the Longitude of a place measured in the Equatour will answer to 60 Italian miles but in other Parallels lesse 2 The difference of Longitudes begets the difference of Times Those therefore which exactly are subiect to the same Longitude haue their Noone at the same moment but where the Longitudes are different the Noonetides are also different That the difference of time is varied according to the difference of Longitude in diuerse parts of the Earth is a matter obuious to euery mans vnderstanding out of two premised grounds 1 That the Earth is Sphaericall 2 That the Sunne in his Diurnall course once in 24 houres compasseth it round whence it comes to passe that places situate Eastward see the Sunnes sooner then those which are placed in the West and that with a proportionall difference of time that to euery houre in the Sunne motion is assigned a certaine number of correspondent miles which is in some sort expressed in a Geographicall Globe or Map wherein we shall finde described 12 Meridians which diuide the whole compasse of the earthly Spheare into 24 equall parts in such sort that betwixt each of the two neerest Meridians are reckned 15 degrees which make one houre by which wee may more easily vnderstand how soone the Noone-time happens in one Citty before another for if one Citty stands Eastward from another the space of three of those foresaid Meridians it is euident that it will inioy noone three houres before the other The reason of this difference of times is the difference of Longitudes wherein to euery houre the Cosmographers haue allotted 15 degrees in the Sunnes Diurnall motion so that 15 degrees multiplied by 24 houres which is the whole naturall day there will bee produced 360 which is the number of degrees in the whole circle 3 If two men from the same place trauell the one Eastward the other Westward round about the Earth and meet in the same place againe they shall finde that he which hath gone Eastward hath gotten and the other going Westward hath lost a day in their account This is without difficulty to be vnderstood out of the change of Longitudes seconded by their trauell varying perpetually the quantity of the day for it is manifest that hee who from any place assigned saileth Eastward mouing continually against the motion of the Sunne will shorten somewhat of his day taking away so much from it as his iourney in proportion of distance hath opposed and anticipated in the time the Diurnall course of the Sunne so that daily gaining something from the length of the day which must bee elsewhere recompenced It must needs be that in the whole circuite of the earth it will amount to 24. houres correspondent to the whole circuite of the Sunne and the compasse of the earth which will make another day Likewise if we suppose another in compassing about the earth to goe Westward it cannot bee otherwise imagined but that seconding the course of the Sunne by his owne iourney hee will daily adde somewhat to the length of his day answerable to his distance from the place wherein hee began to follow the Sunne in his course from East to West The daily addition to the length of the day proportionall to the longitudes which he changeth the Sunne running a like course must daily diminish somewhat of the Diurnall course of the Sunne and so at his iourneyes end which was supposed to be the whole circuite of the earth answerable to 24. houres in the Sunnes course it will loose a whole day To demonstrate both these cases wee will imagine in supposition that of these two trauaillers going the one Eastward the other Westward the former should take away from the length of the day or the latter adde to it for euery 15. miles one minute Then by the golden Rule if 15. miles either subtract or adde one
minute in the length of the day must 21600. miles which is the whole compasse of the earth according to the same proportion either subtract or adde 1440 minutes which make 24. houres the length of the naturall day To confirme the demonstration by popular experience I remember I haue read in the Hollanders discouery of Fretum de Mayre that comming home into their owne Countrey they found by comparing their accounts with their countreymens at home they had lost one day hauing gone Westward and so compassed the earth round Hence will arise diuers consectaries not vnpleasing to be scann'd One I will touch not much dissonant from our purpose That three men residing in the same place at one time shall notwithstanding all vary one from the other in the dayes of the weeke keeping yet an exact account which to explaine the better wee will suppose a Iew a Sarazen and a Christian residing in the same towne together It may so happen according to our former grounds that the Sarazen according to the Law of Mahomet shall obserue his Friday the Iew his Saturday being his Sabboth and the Christian the Lords day being the Sunday yet so as all shall happen on the same day all of them excluding any errour in their calculation For supposition sake wee will place them all at one time all together in Palestine on a Saturday at which time let vs imagine the Sarazen to take his iourney Westward the Christian Eastward so as both of them in their coasts compasse the world to meet againe in the same place The Iew all the while we suppose resident in the same place it will follow by necessary consequence that the Sarazen going about the earth Eastward will loose one day the Christian iourneying Westward will gaine one day the Iew remaining in the same place will neither gaine nor loose These three men then meeting together againe after a yeere two or three at the same place must needs make a diuers account for one and the selfe-same day will bee to the Sarazen Friday to the Iew Saturday and to the Christian Sunday if they exactly calculate the time from their first meeting to their returne vnto the same place Mee thinkes this if there wanted other Arguments were a reason sufficient to conuince some strait-laced men who rigidly contend our Lords day which they erroneously tearme the Sabboth to bee meerely morall as grounded on the Law of nature If it were so according to our premises before demonstrated this absurditie would ensue necessarily That the Morall Law which they call also in a sort the Law of nature is subiect to manifold mutation which by our best Diuines is vtterly denied The consequeâ—ce will easily follow because it cannot be denied by any Christian but that all nations of the world issued from Noahs Arke the Seminary of mankinde and spread themselues from thence ouer the face of the whole earth some farther some at a shorter distance whereby changing the longitude with their habitation they must of necessity alter the differences of times wheron they seeke to ground their Sabboth Neither at this day can any man exactly and precisely obserue any one day either as it was first appointed by Moses in the Leuiticall Law as it was instituted by Christs Apostles afterwards by reason of the manifold transportation of colonies and transmigration of Nations from one Region into another whereby the times must necessarily bee supposed to vary And if any more moderate should vrge that not the exact seuenth day from the first institution bound vs to obseruation so one day in seuen bee obserued it can hardly passe without exception for as much as if any man as Magellane Drake or Candish should trauaile the world about a day must needs be varied as we haue shewed Here I would willingly demand whether such trauailers returning home into their owne countreyes should celebrate the same Lords day according to the institution of their owne Church or else as they finde according to their owne account If they obserue the latter they must schismatically diuide themselues from the Church and keepe a Sabboth of their owne which in euery mans iudgement would be thought absurd as the mother of many inconueniences If the former take place then must the dâ—y be changeable in his nature and so one day of seuen of them should not be obserued I speake not this to cherish any neglect of the duty we owe that day but rather to proue it not meerely to be grounded on the Law of Nature as some would perswade but rather an Ecclesiasticall constitution deriued as it seemes most probable from the Apostles though not in practice in Christs time wherein the Iewish Sabboth was not yet abolished But I haue dwelt too long on this may perhaps incurre sharpe ceÌ„sure for wading too farre into the depth of Diuinity But my Apology shall be this that albeit I haue gone beyond my present subiect I â—â—ue not yet transcended the limits of my profession I serue no faction and therefore dare aduenture my language as free as my opinion 5 Concerning the longitude two things are to be knowne 1. The Inuention 2. The Expression The Inuention proposeth vs the way and manner of the first finding out of the longitude of places There are few things in nature which haue more perplexed the wits of ingenious Mathematicians then the exactest way of finding out the longitude of places Not that the matter was ouer difficult in it selfe but that they sought out a way to performe this conclusion not depending from the obseruation of the celestiall bodies and motions a matter as yet neuer found out and I feare mee vnpossible Because they proposed to themselues one of these two wayes to finde it out either by some magneticall instrument or else by industry of nauigation neither of which can much profit Not the former because there haue neuer beene any fixed points found in the Equatour betwixt East and West as betwixt North and South haue beene obserued so that nothing can proceed out of the meere nature of the earthly Globe whereon wee may ground any difference of longitude Neither is the second very beneficiall for that all voyages both by Sea and land are very irregular and vncertaine either by reason of sundry impediments as rockes mountaines woods contrary winds and other dangers turning aside the direct course of passengers from any direct way or obseruation or else by the Ignorance of Mariners which seldome passe so farre on discouery and if they doe know not perfectly to delineate out their iourney as a Cosmographer would expect to any tolerable satisfaction Neuerthelesse by Astronomicall obseruation wee haue many wayes left vs for the performance of this conclusion as shall bee taught in these following propositions 1 By an Eclypse of the Moone the longitude may be found This conclusion is in this sort to bee performed First it behooueth you to know as you may by an Ephemerides at what houre
by the ray EG so that the distance betwixt the Moone and the fixt starre will bee in that station the Arch of the circle CG Now by the first common Axiome of Euclide euery man must grant that the Arch of BG is greater then CG the former being the whole and this the part Secondly out of the same ground wee may as easily collect that this distance betwixt the Moone and some other knowne fixt starre is varied proportionally according to the distances of the places on the earth because so many places as there are so many diuersity of aspects will arise being increased or diminished according to the distances of places on the Terrestriall Globe This conclusion thus demonstrated wee must proceed to practice in this manner as is taught by Gemma Frisius First it behooueth you to search out by the helpe of Astronomicall Tables the true motion of the Moone according to the Longitude at that time of your obseruation at some certaine place for whose Meridian the rootes of those Tables are calculated 2. You must know the Degree of Longitude of some fixed starre nigh vnto the Eclipticke either preceding or following the moouing of the Moone 3. You must seeke out the Distance of moouing of the Moone and the said starre 4. The distance once had apply the crosse-staffe to your sight and so mooue the Crosse to and fro till you may behold the Center of the Moone at the one ende and the fixed starre with the other So shall you see expressed by the Degrees and Minutes marked on the staffe the distance of the Moone and the said starre correspondent to the place of your obseruation which being noted set downe also the distance betwixt the Moone and the foresaid Starre which was first calculated Then subtract the lesser from the greater the residue will shew the least difference which being diuided by the moouing which the Moone maketh in one houre you shall know the time in which the Moone is or was ioyned with the first distance of the foresaid starre Then hauing conuerted that time into degrees and minutes the rest will be performed either by addition or substraction of the Product thereof to or from that Meridian for which the Tables where by you first calculated the motion of the Moone were appointed and verified If the distance betwixt the Moone and the fixt Starre of your obseruation bee lesser then must you adde the degrees and minutes to the knowne Latitude so shall you finde the place of your obseruation to bee more Eastward If it bee greater then substract the degrees and minutes from the knowne Longitude and the place of your obseruation in this regard will bee more Westward These rules are so farre true that the Moone bee supposed to bee more Westward then the fixed Starre for if otherwise your working must be cleane contrary to wit if the distance betwixt the Moone and the fixed Starre bee lesser you must subtract the degrees and minutes from the knowne Longitude so shall the place of your obseruation bee more Westward but if it bee greater then must you adde the degrees and minutes vnto the knowne Longitude and the place of your obseruation shall bee sound Eastward This way though more difficult may seeme better then all the rest for as much as an Eclipse of the Moone seldome happens and a watch clocke or houreglasse cannot so well bee preserued or at least so well obserued in so long a voyage whereaâ— euery night may seeme to giue occasion to this experiment if so bee the ayre bee freed from clouds and the Moone shew her face aboue the Horizon 4 By the obseruation of the difference in the Sunnes and Moones motion the Longitude of places may be found out To explane this proposition wee will set downe three things 1 Certaine Postulata or granted Axioms 2 The example 3. The manner and practise The grounds or propositions which wee take as granted of all Mathematicians are these 1 That the motion of the Moone is 48 minutes of an houre slower in 24 houres or 360 degrees then that of the Sunne 2 That by obseruation of the heauens and other Mathematicall helpes an Artificer may know in any place first the Meridian Secondly the houre of the day Thirdly the time of the Moones comming to the Meridian 3 The time of the Moones comming to the Meridian may bee knowne by an Ephemerides These things granted wee will suppose for example that in London the Moone on some set day comes to the Meridian at foure of the Clocke after Noone 2 That in some part of the West-Indies the Moone bee obserued to come to the Meridian the same day at 10 minutes after foure These grounds thus set downe the distance of Longitude of that place Westward from London may bee found out The manner of practise is thus to bee wrought by the golden Rule If the difference of the Sunnes and Moones motion bee 48 minutes of an houre in 360 degrees what will it be in 10 minutes The fourth proportionall number will bee 75 degrees the distance of Longitude of the place assigned from London in West Longitude from which number the Longitude from London being subtracted and the remainder from 360 the residue will shew the Longitude If the Moone in the place assigned come sooner to the Meridian wee must count so much in East Latitude This way I first found in Mr Purchas his relation of Halls discouery of Groenland written by William Baffin since this Chapter came vnder the Presse the expression of which being as I suppose shorter and easier then in the Author I doe owe for the most part to my worthy Chamber-fellow Mr. Nathanael Norrington to whose learned conference I confesse my selfe to owe some fruits of my labours in this kinde and all the offices of friendship This manner of inuention for mine owne part I preferre before all the rest both for certainty and facility and as it should seeme by Baffins practise it is more in vse amongst Marriners then the former howsoeuer lesse mentioned amongst writers 14 Thus much for the Inuention of the Longitude the Expression is the imitation of the Longitude on the face of an Artificiall Globe or Mappe which is directed by these Rules 1 The place whereof wee desire to know the Longitude being brought to the Brasen Meridian the degrees of the Equatour will shew the Longitude This Rule may easily be explaned by these three precepts First that you must turne round the Globe on his Axell-tree till you bring the place whereof seek the Longitude vnder the brasen Meridian 2 You must diligently and exactly marke what degree the Meridian cuts in the Equatour 3. You must number how many degrees that point is distant from the first Meridian and the number will giue you the true Longitude sought after This also mâ—y be performed without turning of the Globe if so be any other Meridian in the globe signed out shall passe by the said place For
perpendicular lines is altogether insensible For if two perpendicular or heauy points moued in a line should be distant one from the other the space of 10 a 100 or more feet because this distance is very little in respect of the semidiameter of the Earth the angle of concurse must needs be very little and by consequence those two rayes or lines measuring the descent of two heauy Bodies will seeme altogether Equidistant Yet that there is such a concurrence Nature and Reason will easily consent Hence wee may detect a popular errour beleeued of the vulgar that the walls of houses standing vpright are parallell and of equall distance when contrariwise it is plaine that such walls are erected by a perpendicular and measured by perpendicular lines which being drawne out in length will meet in the Center of the Earth The like may we pronounce of a deep Well whose sides or wall are erected perpendicularly and therefore should it reach as farre as the Center it must needs follow that the sides growing neerer and neerer as they approach the Center would in the end close or shut vp into a Pyramide whose Base should bee the mouth of the Well Likewise if a Tower should bee erected to the Heauens it would be strange to imagine how great and broad the vpper part of it would bee in respect of the bottome Hence againe it may be inferred that any pâ—uement leuelled by a perpendicular is not an absolute plain but rather the portion or Arch of a sphericall superficies whose Center is the same with the Center of the whole Eâ—rth But this roundnesse in a small distance is no way sensible but in a great pauement of foure or fiue hundred paces leuelled perpendicularly it will make some shew of roundnesse whence it must needs follow that an extraordinary great pauement measured ouer by a right line cannot be called leuell or equally poized forasmuch as it is not euery where equally distant from the Center of the Earthly Globe 2 Two heauy bodies of the same figure and matter whether Equall or Vnequall will in equall time moue an equall space This proposition being inuented by one Iohannes Baptist de Benedictis is cited and confirmed by Iohn Dee in his Mathematicall Preface to Billing slie's Geometry Which corrects a common errour of those men which suppose the lighter bodies generally not to moue so fast downeward to the Center as the heauy The demonstration of this Theoreme being drawne from many Staticall principles which we cannot here conueniently insert wee are enforced to omit as intending not the search of these matters any farther than they direct vnto the knowledge of Geographie Yet were it no hard matter to giue â— more popular expression of this reason out of the proportion betwixt this weight of the heauy Body and the Resistance of the Medium Because the Greater Body as it is carryed down-ward by a greater force and violence so on the other side it meets a greater impediment being not able so soone to diuide the Aire as the Lesser Likewise the Lesser body falling with lesse force yet is more apt to diuide it then the other Whence both set the one against the other there will be no disparity in the time and motion 12 Of the primary conformity of the Terrestriall bodyes in the constitution of the Terrestriall Spheare wee haue treated It now seemes needfull that we descend to the secondary which is the inclination of all the parts to make a round Spheare or Globe 1 The Terrestriall Globe is round and Sphericall This Proposition is of great vse and one of the chiefâ—â—â— grounds in Geographie The ground of the Sphericall figure of the Earth is the right motion of heauy bodies to the center For this right motion as wee haue shewed doth expresse one Beame of the circle by whose circumuolution is proâ—uced the circumference of iâ— which we call Secundary conformity of the parts of the Earth in so much as it growes Mathematically as it were out of the first For this Sphericall figure of the Earth sundry sound reasons are vrged by Geographers First that the Earth is round according to its Latitude that is from North to South Secondly according to its Longitude that is from East to West and therefore must it needes bee absoâ—utely Sphericall The first part is shewed that it is round from Nâ—rth to South for if a man trauell from North to South or contrariwise from South to North hee shall perceiue nâ—w starres in the Heauens to appeare and shew themselues which before hâ—e could not see which can be referred to no other cause then the Sphericall conuexity or swelling of the Earth As for example The starre which is called Canopus which is a notable starre in the ship appeares not at Rhodes or at least from high places But if you trauell forth Southward from Italy into Egypt to Alexandria the same starre Proclus obserues will manifest it selfe to your sight the fourth part of a signe aboue the Horizon From whence wee may draw a sound proofe that there is a Sphericall and gibbous conuexitie which interposeth it selfe betwixt Rhodes and Egypt In which place the people who inhabite that part of Egypt which borders vpon Arabia which are called Trogloâ—ites of their dwelling in caues cannot see any Starre of the Great Beare Whence wee may concluâ—e that the Earth from the North to the South is round and Sphericall For if otherwise the Earth were plaine all the Northerne starres would appeare to the inhabitants of the Southerne Regions and on the other side all the other Southerne constellations would bee seene of the Northerne inhabitants which sense and reason altogether contradict Secondly that the Earth is round according to its Longitude betwixt East and West may bee proued by two reasons The first is taken from the rising and setting of the Sunne Moone and other Starres for as much as all they doe not arise or set with all Nations at the same houres For with the inhabitants of the East the Sun-rising is sooner with the Westerne inhabitants later and that in such proportion that euery 15 degrees measured out by the Sunnes diurnall motion adds or subtracts one whole houre in the length of the day This is found by experience and testimony of Cosmographers that the Sunne riseth with the Persian inhabiting toward the East foure houres sooner then to the Spaniard in the West Sundry other the like examples may bee alleaged all which we must needes impute to the Sphericall roundnesse of the Earth proportionally increasing betwixt East and West The other reason to confirme this last point is drawne from the Ecclipses of the Sunne and Moone which would not appeare in diuers places at diuers houres if the Earth were plaine or square We see plainly that Ecclipses of the Moone appeare sooner to the Westerne people but later to the Easterne As according to Ptolomie in Arbela a towne of Assyria where Alexander ouercame Darius the last King of
the Persians was there obserued an Ecclipse at the fifth houre of the night which selfe-same Ecclipse was seene in Carthage at the second which to any man appeares plainly in this figure here inserted In like manner an Ecclipse of the Sunne at Campania which was obserued betwixt 8 and 9. was as Pliny reports seene in Armenia betwixt 10 and 11 of the clocke Whence may be gathered that this difference of appearance arose from the roundnesse of the Earth interposing it selfe betwixt these two places Another reason to proue the Spericall figure of the Earth is drawne from the Ecclipse of the Moone wherein the obscured point is described by a Sphericall figure which must needs argue that the body which causeth the shadow is also round For as the Optickes teach vs the shadow is wont to follow and imitate the opacous body whence it proceedes and all men confesse that the Ecclipse of the Moone is made by the interposition of the Spheare of the Earth betwixt the Sun Moone intercepting the beames of the Sun which should illustrate lighten the Moone The third reason may be taken from the absurdities which would follow should we admit any other figure besides For granting it to be plaine as some of the Platonists haue imagined it would necessarily follow in reason 1 That the Eleuation of the Pole would bee the same in all the parts of the Earth 2 That there Would bee the same face and appearance of the Heauens in all places 3 That the Sunne and Moone with other starres would in all places arise alike at the same houres 4 That all Ecclipses would appeare to all places at the same houres 5 That the same quantity of dayes nights would bee at all places 6 That the shadowes would bee euery where alike and one Region would not bee hotter or colder then another all which would plainly stand opposite to reason and experience As many or more would proue the absurdities of those that ascribe to the Earth any other figure then Sphericall Which I willingly passe ouer as not willing to fight with shadowes and faigne an opposition where I scarce finde an aduersary These reasons are sufficient to proue that the whole masse of the Earth is Sphericall Diuers other popular arguments may be drawne from the finall cause to countenance this Assertion For no other figure can bee assigned to the Earth which can more vphold the order of Nature or speake the wisdome of the Omnipotent Creator 1 Because such a Figure would best beseeme the Earth the seate and dwelling-place of all liuing Creatures which is most capable because otherwise the God of Nature would seeme to doe something in vaine and without cause Forasmuch as the same capacity might bee confined within stricter bounds Now it is apparant to all Mathematicians that amongst all those figures which they call Isoperâ—â—etrall a Circle is the most capable and amongst the rest those which approâ—ch neerest vnto a circle And as wee esteeme of a circle described in a plaine surfâ—ce so must we iudge in solides of a Spheare Which profitable Geometry of Nature wee shall finde instilled into most liuing Creatures who by a certaine Naturall Instinct without the vse of Reason make their Nests and resting-places of a Sphericall Figure as most conuenient and of greatest capacity as experience shewes vs in the Nests of Birds and Bee-Hiues wherein the cells are fashioned round Sphericall 2 We shall find the holy Scriptures consonant to this opinion in diuers places but that it might seeme impiety to vse those sacred helpes in a matter out of controuersie and needing no such Demonstration 2 The rugged and vnequall parts of the Earth hinder not the Sphericall roundnesse of it It is thought by ignorant people that the Earth is not round because of the rugged and vneuen parts of the superficies of it For some-where it swells with great and high mountaines rocks and hills Other-where it seemes indented and as it were trenched into valleyes concauities all which seeme to detract from a true Sphericall superficies because in such a one euery line drawne from the Center to it should bee equall one to the other Indeed that the Globe of the Earth is not Absolutely and Geometrically round as an Artificiall Spheare is confessed by Eratosthenes cited by Strabo in his 1 booke of Geographie whence Pliny in his â— booke cap. 21. saith that the Earth Water make one Globe not so absolutely round as the Heauens but much different 〈◊〉 also Strabo confirmes This proposition depending on these 3 reasons which follow will shew that this Inequality how great soeuer it seeme to the sight is altogether insensible and bearing no proportion with the huge vastnesse of the whole Earth The first is taken from the perpendicular hight of the greatest and highest mountaine which is seldome or neuer found to exceed 10 miles although few Mathematicians will grant so much whereas the whole Diameter of the Earth containes no lesse thâ—n 7200 English miles so that these hils compared to the thicknes of the Earth are but â—s 10 to 7200 which indeed hath no sensible proportion The second is taken from the Ecclipse of the Moone which being caused by the shadow of the interposed Earth is described by a Sphericall figure without any vnequall or rugged parts which no doubt would appeare if these parts challenge any due proportion or sensible quantity in respect of the whole Earth Thirdly some haue illustrated this by a round bowle or ball whose externall surface although vnequall and indented here there with scotches other-where swelling with knobs will notwithstanding being interposed betwixt the Sun-beame and a wall or such place giue a round or Sphericall shadow in the same wall or plaine in regard of the little quantity of these small parts in respect of the whole Body In like sort must wee imagine the mountaines and vnequall parts in the face of the Earth to bee no otherwise then as so many warts or pimples in the face of man which cannot alter his duâ— proportion or symmetry of the parts 3 The Water concurring with the Earth in the Globe is also Sphericall It is a proposition agreed on by Archimedes and almost all the ancient Mathematicians of any note that the superficies of the Water or any other liquor standing and subsisting quietly of it seâ—fe is Sphericall whose center will bee the same with the center of the whole Earth which we are here to handle because it appertaines to the making vp of the Terrestriall Globe although wee shall haue occasion hereafter to speake specially concerning the Water in Hydrographie in the second part of this Treatise The reasons to confirme this assertion beside those that in generall proue the Sphericity of the Terrene globe are diuers 1 It is obserue that Passengers in a Ship lanching out into the deepe from some Hauen will first perceiue the Towers Buildings Castles Promontories and Trees standing
his Elementary constitution this reason would hardly admit of a solid answer For howsoeuer in the vast frame of the Earth the addition or subtraction of some parts would make but an insensible difference yet can it not bee denied but the least waight whatsoeuer added or subtracted would turne it from its Equall-poyze Neuerthelesse this I hold too absurd for a Christian to beleeue for as much as it contradicts the sense of holy Scriptures which auerre the earth to bee so setled on her foundation that shee should not at any time bee remoued or shaken which motion as shall bee proued in the second Theoreme I take to bee vnderstood of such a Trepidation of the Center and the Poles which by a metaphor are tearmed the foundation of the earth and not of the circular motion as some haue laboured to wrest it Wherefore nothing is here left vs to satisfie this doubt but to haue recourse to his magneticall verticity whereby the poles of the Earth endowed with a magneticall vigor and ouerswaying the elementary ponderosity of the earthly parts are as it were so fast bound to respect the same points or poles in the Heauens that the Center can no wayes bee shaken or moued out of his place 3 The Magneticall Reuolution is a motion by which the whole globe of the Earth is moued round Aristotle in his 1 booke de coelo makes 3 kindes of simple motions out of which hee labours to deduce the number of simple bodies The first is the motion from the center such as is of Fire and Ayre and all light bodies the second to the center such as is of Earth and Water the third is round about the center or middle which hee ascribes to the Heauens so that if this ground were true the Earth could challenge to it selfe no other then the right motion whereby the parts of it being separated from the whole returne to it againe But this opinion although popular and plausible hath beene contradicted as well by ancient Philosophers as moderne for by long experience and diligent obseruation they haue found the earth to bee endowed with a star-like vigour whereby shee may hauing all her parts vnited together by reason of her grauity vnto the Center and her place made sure by her magneticall poles moue naturally vpon her owne poles at least if so bee shee claime no other motion This opinion first blosomed as farre as I can gather in the Schoole of Pythagoras was cherished by Heraclides Ponticus and Ecphantus two famous Pythagoreans to which afterward ioyned themselues Nicetus Syracusanus and Aristarchus Samius all which haue vndertaken to defend that the Earth moues circularly and that this circumgyration of the Earth causeth the rising and setting of the Sunne as well as of other starres although in the manner they haue not expressed themselues alike hauing inioyed as yet scarce the first dawn of knowledge But all this while Philosophie contented her selfe with the acquaintance of a few choice friends not daring to prostitute her treasures to popularity But when it hapned in after times that shee was taught the language of the vulgar and spake to the vnderstanding of each mechanicke shee soone contracted some staines and squared her selfe rather to please the most then the best Thus the multitude as a vast torrent preuailed against the learned and cast into exile the inuentions of the Ancients which their ignorance was readier to censure then vnderstand Yet were not the seeds of this Philosophy quite extinct but as forgotten for a time vntill there arose Copernicus a man of incomparable wit who quickned and reuiued it to his euerlasting prayse and our profit I would not here be mistaken as though I strongly apprehend these grounds and reiect all the principles of our Peripateticke Philosophie I only inueigh against their preiudicate ignorance which ready to licke vp the dust vnder Aristotles feet with a supercilious looke contemne all other learning as though no flowers of science could grow in another garden I confesse this opinion of the Earths circular motion to bee subiect to many and great exceptions and opposed by strong and waighty arguments drawn probably from the booke of God the touch-stone of sincere verity yet I hold it too strongly fortified to be inuaded by popular arguments drawn from seeming sense and bolstered vp with names and authorities For mine owne part I confesse not absolute subscription to this opinion yet could I not conueniently leaue it out because hauing vndertaken to insert this Magneticall Tract I would not willingly mangle it in any part but shew it whole and intire to the view of the iudicious who herein may vse their Philosophicall liberty to imbrace or reiect what they please If these grounds seeme true they will finde acceptance if otherwise it cannot indamage Truth to know her aduersary Wherefore I thinke no man will take it amisse that I insert this following Theoreme 1 It is probable that the terrestriall Globe hath a circular motion Copernicus ascribes three motions to the spheare of the Earth whereof the first is in the space of 24 houres about her owne axell making the day and night and is therefore called the Diurnall The second is yeerely wherein the Center it selfe of the Earth is moued from West to East describing the circle of the Signes The third is a motion of Declination performed in an annuall reuolution reflecting against the motion of the Center for the Axis of the Earth is supposed to haue a conuertible nature whereas if it should remaine fixt there would appeare no inequality of day and night Spring Autumne Summer or Winter I will not here curiously distinguish the differences limits and periods of these three motions but leaue it to the skilfull Astronomer to whom properly it appertaines it is enough for mee to shew it probable that the Earth should challenge to it selfe a circular motion in prosecution of which I shall labour chiefly to establish that first motion which is of the Terrestriall globe about her owne axis which is the easiest both to beleeue and vnderstand That I may the better expresse the grounds of this opinion I will labour to proue these two points 1 That this opinion is consonant to reason 2 That it no way contradicts the sense of the Holy Scripture The former assertion wee will againe diuide into 3 articles 1 That the motion which wee seeke to establish in the Earth cannot without much absurdity bee granted to the heauens Secondly that it no way contradicts to nature of the Earth it selfe Thirdly that the arguments produced against this opinion are not so strong but may bee answered with probability First therefore finding the dayly rising and setting of the Sunne Moone and other Starres to arise from some motion wee are to seeke out the true subiect of this motion It is agreed vpon by all that this subiect must bee the Heauens which are carryed in 24 houres from East to West or the
hath taught the Heauens are moued or turned round by an Angell or Intelligence fixed to his Orbe of a spirituall and immateriall substance which in a body meetes no opposition Not in the body moued because of it's owne Nature it is prone and inclinable to this motion But this reason is like a reed that hurts his hand that leanes on it for first what indigence or necessity in Nature is obserued so great to bee the father of such Intelligences What serious iudgment can euer imagine the Angels to bee like gally-slaues chained fast to their gallies or turne-spit-dogs labouring in their wheeles To what vse shall they serue not to stirre vp and beginne the motion for why should we debarre the Heauens from the priuiledge ofall other Bodies farre lesse excellent whose motions challenge no other cause or beginning then their owne forme and nature Not to Regulate and confine this motion for Nature which beginnes any action or motion is able of her selfe to set limits and bounds vnto it without the helpe of any externall agent Finally not to continue this motion for as wee are taught in our Philosophie Euery Naturall Agent if it bee not hindered still acts to the vttermost of his power and therefore needes no externall coadiutor to continue his action for otherwise we might suppose the Heauens to grow weary and faint in their intended course Secondly whereas they say there can bee no Resistence in the body moued they contradict their owne grounds for it is agreed by all that the higher Orbs doe turne and wrest about the lower I would willingly aske by what kinde of action either by a vertuall influence or emanation or els by a corporall touch and application The former is improbable and as farre as I can gather not auuouched by any and were it so it would seeme ridiculous for why should wee rather ascribe this effect to an vnknowne influence of an externall body then to the vigour of his owne forme and nature For if one orbe in this sort can moue another why could it not moue it selfe being more present to it selfe then any other If they say by a corporall application of bodies and their parts I see not how they can auoid this Renitencie and reaction which alwayes doth suppose some resistence for how can one solide and hard body bee imagined to heaue and push another forward without some reluctancy in the patient because the inferiour Orbe hauing of it selfe a proper motion this must needes be violent as supposing a forcing wresting of Nature from her proper course whereof it is not hard to shew a sensible demonstration because the Orbe naturally directed one way is turned and directed another way at the same time which both motions concurring in the same body must needes offer violence one to the other Moreouer the immunity from corruptible qualities granted to the Heauens which is the ground of this opinion hath beene muh talked of amongst the Aristoteleans but neuer warranted by any certaine demonstration wee see say these Philosophers the Heauens to haue remained since the beginning of the World without any sensible alteration and change and therefore must all the Elementary and corruptible qualities bee excluded To disproue this I need goe no farther then the last Comet which Mathematicians by the parallax found to bee in the heauens And whereas otherwise they seeke a sensible alteration in other parts they deceiue themselues for as in the earth whereon wee dwell howeuer the parts interchangeably corrupt and ingender dayly yet the whole Globe will apparantly remaine the same keeping it's integrity so may it happen to many of the superiour Globes whose parts dayly corrupted and renewed againe although for the great distance to vs insensible the whole Globe remaineth still perfect in his perfect Sphericity I cease any further to inuade anothers Prouince and therefore descend to a second argument to proue this extraordinary violent and swift motion in the heauens to bee improbable It is ordinarily obserued in other Orbes of the heauens that the higher the Orbe is placed the motion is slower as for example the Spheare of the Moone which is next the Earth is carried about in 27 dayes Mercury and Venus are slow enough in their course as the former in 80 dayes the latter in 9 moneths the Sunne in a yeere Mars in 2 yeeres Iupiter in 12 Saturne in 30. Also those Astronomers which giue the fixt starres a motion would haue them to finish their course according to Ptolomie in 36000 but if wee will beleeue Copernicus in 25816 yeeres so that the higher and greater the circles be so much slower will be the motion what iniury were it then to the concord and harmony of Nature to impose vpon the highest Orbe of all such an vnmeasurable strange motion which might strike the most Sâ—raphickâ— Angell into admiration To these may bee added other Arguments in Copernicus which albeit they be not demonstratiue will make the matter more probable First that Nature in all things is a compendious and short worker and vseth not many helpes for such thinges as may bee performed by fewer and therefore need wee not to vse the helpe of so many Orbes and concamerations to square our obseruations which will find more steady footing in this one ground once granted of the Earth's circular motion Secondly it will seeme more consonant and agreeable to Nature that the highest and vttermost Spheare of all which bounds and engirts in all the World besides should rest quiet and vnmoueable then to suffer such an intollerable motion as might endanger the whole Fabricke Lastly I may adde this one that this diurnall motion granted to the first Moueable can in my iudgement hardly stand with the regularity of heauenly Bodies if wee expresse it no otherwise then the ordinary sort of Astronomers For a regular motion is defined to bee that whereby in equall times a body is moued through equall places But this Diurnall motion receiued from the first Moueable concurring with the Sunnes annuall motion will exclude this equality For first it is granted that the Sunne in his motion from the Aequator to the Tropicke according to sense runnes â—uery day in a distinct parallell for although euery minute hee declines somewhat from the Aequator toward the Tropicke yet the difference is not sensible so that wee may well euery day assigne a parallelll-inâ— to the Sun's motion Secondly they must grant that these parallells are diminished and grow lesse and lesse toward the Tropicke from the Aequator Thirdly that as wee haue foreshewed of two bodies mouing in the same time on the same center that should moue faster which is greater so one body mouing in diuerse vnequall circles in equall time it must of necessity follow that it must needes moue faster in that which is greater here wee may conclude he moues faster in the Aequator then in the Tropicke because in the one hee is carryed in a greater parallell in the
as a giant to runne his course 6 His going forth is from the end of the Heauens and his circuite vnto the ends of it and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof Out of which words the Heauens should seeme to challenge the motion which wee haue giuen vnto the Earth To this we answer two wayes First that although this may oppugne Copernicus his opinion that the Sunne standeth still in the middest as the center of the World yet may it well stand with our Assertion who allow the Sunne his seuerall motion in the Eclipticke whether those words of the Psalme bee to bee vnderstood of the Sunnes Diurnall or Periodicke Motion is not so soone decided the Scripture not specifying expressely either 2 we may answer with the Copernicâns That the Holy Ghost in these or the like places speakes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being willing to descend to the weakest of mens capacity and not to trouble mens conceits with such matters as to vulgar iudgements might seeme vnlikely or improbable The like Analogie of speech may wee finde in the first of Genesis where the Moone is called one of the greater lights in regard of her appearance being notwithstanding one of the least These may suffice to shew the opinion of the earths circular motion to bee probable I promised no more I hope I haue performed no lesse I neuer held it an article of my faith to defend the one or oppugne the other and therefore leaue euery man to his owne free iudgement to embrace or reiect what he please CHAP. V. Of the Site Stability and Proportion of the Earth 1 OF Terrestriall affections which agree in respect of the Earth it selfe wee haue hitherto spoken We are now to treate of such as agree to it in respect of the Heauens These are chiefly three 1 The Site 2 The Stability 3 The Proportion 2 The Site is the locall position of the Earth in respect of the Celestiall Bodyes It might seeme a hard and almost impossible taske for any man to reconcile that which hath beene spoken in the former Chapter concerning the Earths circular Reuolution with the grounds of common Geographers which hold the Terrestriall Globe to bee setled and fixed in the Center of the world The reason is because such as hold the circular motion of the Earth whereof the chiefe is Copernicus would haue the Sun to stand still as the fixt Center of the Vniuerse and the Earth to moue round about him betwixt Mars and Venus which seemes cleane opposite to the former opinion I must confesse that Copernicus his opinion entirely taken and vnderstood standeth altogether opposite to these our grounds yet may that motion of the Earth which we haue established in the former Chapter for ought I yet know bee well reconciled with their opinion which hold the Earth to bee the Center of the world For the circular Reuolution wee gaue to the Terrestriall Globe was not a motion of the Center of it from one place to another as that of the Starres which moue round about the Earth but rather a turning of it selfe in its owne place vpon her owne Poles and Axell-tree in such sort as the wheele of a mill or such a like engin fixt in one place is turned vpon his owne Axell So that the motion wee there vnderstood was only the Diurnall motion of 24 houres making the Day and Night The other two motions mentioned by Copernicus may be found out in the Heauens and left to Astronomers The reasons why I entirely embrace not Copernicus his opinion are chiefely two First because it seemes too harsh and dissonant in nature to make one and the selfe-same body subiect to so many motions especially such as by common Philosophers is denied all motion Secondly because the other motions granted to the Earth must needs suppose it to bee placed out of the Center of the world the contrary of which we shall in this Chapter God willing sufficiently demonstrate The motion therefore most called in question and most likely to bee found in the Earth rather then in the Heauen is the Diurnall Reuolution performed in 24 houres from the West to East which as we haue proued being giuen to the Heauens would be farre swifter then nature can well suffer wherefore with more probability may this motion bee taken from the heauens and giuen vnto the Earth The other without any absurdity at all may be granted in the Heauens Sith no repugnancy is found in nature but that euery heauenly body may be furnished with some motion and therefore Copernicus might haue granted the Sun and fixed Starres their seuerall motions as well as the rest which would haue seemed farre more probable then to haue endowed the Earth with a Triplicity of motion These things being thus opened I will set downe their Theoremes 1 The Terrestriall Globe is the Center of the whole world To vnderstand aright this proposition wee must consider that a Center may be taken two manner of wayes either Geometrically or Optically In Geometry it is taken for an imaginary point conceiued in a magnitude deuoyde of all quantity yet bounding and termining all Magnitudes Optically it is vsually taken for a small and insensible Magnitude because to the fight it may seeme no other then a Point In which last sense we may call the Earth the Center For although the Earthly Spheare is endowed with a great and massie substance yet as we shall hereafter demonstrate in respect of the Firmament this greatnesse would vanish into nothing For if a man standing in the Firmament should behold it it would seeme no other then as a small point This being declared wee will produce these reasons to proue the Earth to be the Center of the Vniuerse The Center I say not of all heauenly motions for some Starres are moued vpon their own Center but of the whole heauenly machine being collectiuely taken as one Body The first argument is of Aristotle taken from the grauity or naturall inclination of all heauy bodies to the Center The Earth saith he being a heauy massie body must needs seeke the lowest place which is farthest off from the Heauens But this can be no other then the Center or middest point of the whole world Which argument by others is more subtily vrged in this manner Suppose the whole masse of the Earth were cut and diuided into many parts equall the one to the other of the same waight and figure which parts so diuided were placed in diuers places vnder the concaue Superficies of the Moone that they might be freely left to themselues to moue according to their naturall inclinations It is most certaine that all their parts being of the same nature waight quantity and figure would descend with the same motion in the same equall time to the same place which could in no wise happen except they should concurre in the Center of the world But this reason for ought I vnderstand is only probable and
the other at the endes the former was thought not habitable by reason of the extremity of heat because the Sunne-beames there fall perpendicularly and so make a greater reflection The other for extremity of cold by reason of the obliquity of the Sunne-beames causing little or no reflection whence a second cause seemes to be drawne from the extreame drought of those places which seemes most opposite to mans temper requiring a reasonable degree of moisture But notwithstanding these reasons of the ancients it must needes bee confessed as an vndoubted truth confirmed by experience of many Nâ—uigatours that those Regions by them imagined vnfit for habitation are not onely habitable but in many places very populous Neither want there many reasons found out by latter writers to mitigate the rigour of this opinion some whereof wee haue already touched in our former treatise First whereas they vrge the places vnder the Equinoctiall to bee vnhabitable by reason of intemperate heat wee may easily answer that the dayes and nights are then alwayes equall containing not aboue 12 houres so that the space of either being shorter the cold of the night may well asswage the extreame heat of the day Another reason is ordinarily taken from the extraordinarily high mountaines commonly placed vnder the Equinoctiall which approaching neerer the middle Region of the aire must of necessity partake some what more of cold which dayly experience can witnesse in that their top â— are couered with snow euen in the depth of Summer Thirdly the neerenesse of the maine Ocean to a great part of this Region is a great cause of this cold temper because water is found to bee by nature cold Fourthly the set and certaine windes by nature ordained to blow in the hottest times of the yeere may adde much to temperature Fiftly the extraordinary Raines and showers which those places suffer which are vnder the Line especially when the Sunne is verticall are a great cause of the asswaging of the heat of the Sunne Lastly the custome of the Inhabitants being from their cradles inured to no other quality or disposition of the ayre will take away much from our admiration On the other side no small reasons may bee shewed why the Regions lying neere or vnder the Pole should not bee so extreamely cold but that they may admit of habitation First because the Sunne being for six moneths together aboue their Horizon must needs impresse into the Ayre more heat then otherwise it would doe Besides the thicknesse incorporated as it were with heat must needs receaue into it more degrees of it then a thinner and more refined ayre because the intention of the quality most commonly supposeth the condensation or thickning of the subiect wherein it is But no greater reason can bee shewed in this point then the custome of the Northerne inhabitants exposed from their infancy to no other temperament If wee should aske a reason why wee vnmaske our faces against the encounter of the greatest cold being a soft and tender part not daring to vncouer our other parts what reason can a man inuent but custome If any should aske why barbarous people liuing in farre colder climates then this of ours goe altogether naked whereas the cold is mother of many diseases amongst vs who goe alwayes clothed onely vse and custome can yeeld an answer These reasons make it probable enough that no place of the whole world is by nature made not habitable Now that it is not only inhabitable by nature but also for the most part truly inhabited will appeare as easily if wee trust the testimony of Nauigatours which haue discouered few or no Regions wanting some â—nhabitants But that this proposition may bee more distinctly vnderstood wee must know that the whole world is diuided into Sea and Land for the Sea we may call it habitable in that large sense before mentioned to wit that on it euery where men in ships may breath and liue which is plaine out of experience of Nauigatours who haue sailed round about the Earth from East to West and haue entred farre towards the North and South where at least some times of the yeere or other they might finde the way passable For the land which is here principally vnderstood wee must note that it may bee considered two wayes either for euery little quillet or parcell of land contaned in the superficies of the Earth or else for a certaine Region of some indifferent greatnesse In the former sense it were too much to affirme euery part of the Earth to bee habitable for as much as many places as the toppes of the Alpes or the sands of Africa properly admit of no habitation yet in an improper and large sense they may be called habitable because on them a man may liue and breath for a certaine space of time But if by the parts of the land wee vnderstand some reasonable greatnesse no great doubt can bee made but that it is either already inhabited by mankinde or can at least admit of habitation as that which not only for a time affords a man life and breath but also some conuenient meanes of sustenance for no countrey hath euer beene found so indigent and barren of all vitall aides which is neither capeable of liuing creatures in the land fit for mans nourishment or that cannot draw Fishes from the Sea or if this should faile cannot afford Fruits or Herbage from the ground or in case all the rest were deficient cannot haue passage by Water to other Countries whence to relieue their necessities And no question but nature hath stored euery Countrey with some commodity or other which by trafficke may draw riches from other Regions as by instances may more particularly appeare hereafter when wee shall speake of particular Regions and their seuerall accidents 2 All places of the Earth haue suffered manifold alteration and change as well in Name as Nature I need not spend time to demonstrate this Assertion for that euery place of the Earth hath beene subiect to much mutation in the processe of time as well in Nature of the Soyle as of the Inhabitants a few obuious instances in each Countrey will easily certifie yet will it not seeme amisse I hope to shew the progresse manner and causes of this alteration which would giue no small satisfaction To discourse of all changes according to all times were a matter infinite Wee may referre all to two heads to wit the change of Names and the change of Nature Concerning the former that most Countreyes haue changed their first and originall names is most euident to such as consult the Maps and writings of our common Geographers for few or none will discouer vnto vs any Region by that name by which it was knowne in former times in so much as great controuersie and dispute hath growne about diuerse countreyes mentioned by ancient writers whereof the name should take its first originall but of this change we shall speake hereafter But if we
hath a two-fold Motion The first is common to all heauy Bodyes as well as the Earth in which is an inclination to come as neere as they can to the Center of the Earth whereof wee haue spoken in our former booke The second is that which more properly agrees to the Sea which is againe twofold either the Naturall or the Violent The Naturall howsoeuer requiâ—ing perhaps the concurrence of some externall cause is notwithstanding so called for as much as it chiefly seemes to proceede from the Disposition of the Sea-water The Violent is caused meerely by the violence of the winds mouing the Ocean The Naturall motion we haue againe diuided into generall or speciall because the Affluxe and Refluxe of the Sea whereof we are to treat is generall throughout the whole Ocean some petty creekes perchance excepted whereas the Currents which is the second kinde of motion are more speciall as agreeing not to all or most parts as it seemes but to some one or other speciall place as we shall shew 1 The Sea twice euery day ebbes and flowes The flowing and ebbing of the Sea howsoeuer it cannot be precisely obserued in all Seas yet because few places of the maine Ocean are exempted from it deserues the first chiefest consideration That such a motion there is experience shewes but the searching out of the cause is for ought I can obserue one of the greatest difficulties in all Naturall Philosophie in so much as Aristotle one of the acutest Philosophers is reported to haue stood amazed at the flowing and ebbing of Euripus and despairing of finding out the cause at length enforced to cast himselfe into the Riuer which had before confounded him Wherefore it may seeme sufficient for mee to trace their steps who haue waded far into the search of this cause hauing very little hope to goe further The first opinion was of the Stoickes who supposed the whole World to bee a great liuing creature composed of diuerse Elements which inioyes both breath and life This liuing creature they imagine to haue his nostrils placed in the maine Ocean where by drawing in and sending foorth breath the ebbing and flowing of the Sea is caused but this seemeth rather to bee a Poeticall fiction or Allegory then any conceit of a Philosopher Apollonius Tianaeus was of an opinion that certaine Spirits eithervnder or aboue the Water breathed into it this motion Timaeus taught the cause of this moisture to be the riuer breaking into the Ocean by the great mountaines Plato thought that it was made by the swallowing vp of the Sea into a gulfe or hole which being againe cast out was the cause of that motion in the Sea Seleuous the Mathematician which affirmed that the Earth was carried round with a perpetuall motion thought that the Moone was turned round with a motion contrary to the motion of the Eâ—rth and from this to proceed that motion of ebbing and flowing of the Sea whereof wee now treat What Aristotles opinion was concerning this matter is an vncertaine coniecture forasmuch as litle or nothing can bee gathered touching this point in controuersie out of any booke which is certainly knowne to be Aristotles for the tract of the propriety of Elements where the cause of this motion is ascribed to the Moone is iudged to be none of Aristotles but of some later Authour Yet Plutarch imposeth on Aristotle this opinion that this motion of the Sea should come from the Sun because by it are raised vp many windy exhalations which should cause the Sea to swell blowing into the great Atlantick Ocean But thisopinion is charged by Paâ—ricius of a threefold errour 1. That it should proceed from the Sun 2 From the wind 3 That it is only in the Atlantick Sea He saw saith Patricius that in the Atlantick which he could not in the Aegean Sea at home and neere Athens For 1 No wind blowes so regularly that for one six houres it should blow forward the other six houres backward for the wind oftentimes blowes many daies the same way without ceasing yet is their not one only flowing or one ebbing in the Sea 2. The Sunne stirres vp sometimes windes and sometimes stirres them not vp But of a perpetuall effect which is daily why would this Philosopher giue a cause meerely violent and not quotidian which notwithstanding would haue nothing violent to be perpetuall If the Sea bee somewhere moued naturally by other motions as the Euripus which is said to be his death wherefore will he deny this motion to be Naturall seeking out an externall cause of this effect But all this while our Platonick Philosopher seems to fight with shadowes for what iudicious man can imagine so iudicious and wise a Philosopher as Aristotle should so grossely ouershoot himselâ— to father this opinion I should much rather beleiue that no such opinion is to be found in Aristotle at least that it is indirectly related which I the rather beleiue because one Caesalpinus a late Writer aswell opposite to Aristotle as the other hath related Aristotles opinion otherwise to wit that the ebbing and flowing of the Sea is deriued from a double cause whereof the one is the multitude of Riuers bringing in a great force of waters into it whence it comes to passe that it flowes only towards one paâ—t which is the lower as it happens to the Mediterranean For the Egaean and Ponticke Sea with Maeotis flow into the Tyrrhene and not on the opposite side The other cause hee makes to bee the libration of the whole Sea for it is often turn'd from one side to the other which in so great a vastnes seemes but little but in straights narrow places much more So that Aristotle saith Caesalpinus would haue that to agree to the Sea which vsually happens to a paire of ballance which hauing receiued the beginning once of their motion are inclined sometimes this way sometimes that way by reason of the equality of the weight for if the weight of one should ouercome thewhole would incline thatway and would not riâ—e vpon the other side But against this opinion imposed on Aristotle Caesalpinus not without good reason excepts that the Superficies of the Water being Equidistant from the Center as is supposed by Geographers no reason may bee giuen why it should incline more to one side then another hauing once obtained his true place sith according to Aristotles owne grounds no violence câ—n be perpetâ—all To which I may adde another answer that no satisfactory reason can be alleadged why it should alwayes obserue so true and iust periods of time in its motion sith all Riuers are sometimes encreased and other times diminished according to the season of the yeere and variety of the weather wherefore the said Authour which impugnes this opinion hath framed another conceit grounded on the circular motion of the Earth which he explaineth in this sort It agrees â—o reason saith he that the Water should not altogether follow the motion
forth these vapours if the vapours kept vnder doe raise the sea vp or if the Sea swell with these vapours in her wombe how can she let them out 2 How will he proue the Sea naturally to be hot sith it is one of the cold Elements Thirdly where he saith that the light of the Moone is but in halfe imparted to the Sea why should not the Sea proportionally in halfe be stirred vp wherfore Patricius and Casman finding neither the Sunne nor the Moone of it selfe to be a sole or sufficient cause of this motion hauing ioyned them both together in this causality and added besides other particular causes first say they there are two kind of causes concurring to that effect either Vniuersall and externall or Particular internall and next causes The Vniuersall causes are two to wit the Sunne and the Moone The Sunne saith he with the heat of his beames and light doth conserue viuificate and stirre vp to action the Internall and originall heat in all things here below This Heat being stirred vp and viuificated all things are made fit for motion and being so accommodated are stirred vp to motion as if from an Internall life they should be promoted to an Externall for as in the primâ—ry life of things the motion and action is shewn in the Essence in the secondary the action and motion outwardly in respect of other things so the first and originall heat of the Sea cherished stirred vp by the external heat of the Sun driues the Ocean and moues it to action The Moone also cherisheth preserueth viuificates nourisheth and stirres vp to motion all these earthly humours and moistures and as she dayly by houres beholds the Sun as her darling and by him is as it were big-bellied with liuely seedes so she beholdes her loue the Ocean dayes and nights and fills the Ocean with these seeds which she receiues from the Sunne But this cannot be performed without her motion without the diffusion of her light without the effusion of her influeÌ„ce seeds wherefore it cannot otherwise bee but all our humours and moistures should be made fruitfull conceiue life bring forth beare fruit and be stirred vp to life and motion by the motion of the Moone through the Aspect of the Moone with the Sun with the Earth with the Ocean wherfore all lower moistures are subiect to the power of the Moone Notwithstanding all are not aequally vnder her dominioÌ„ sith all are not of the same substance of the same Rarity or density or of the same Heat reasons all â—aged from the Caspian Sea may be ascribed to the thicknesse of the water not suffering any thing to sinke into it So that for the crassitude of it it must needs be heauier then other Water and so more vnapt for motion Thirdly it is recorded by some that in the inmost creeke of the Red sea there is a motion and so in the mouth of it by reason of the Ocean but in the middle no such matter is to be obserued which strange effect some ascribe to the Thinnesse of the Water one of the causeâ— aboue named begetting fewer and weaker Vapours and Spirits which either streightway breath out or are too weake to raise vp the Water This thinnesse is confirmed to be in that midle part of the Red sea not onely out of the authority of Iohn Barro out of the experiments of Iohn de Castro which found this Water to be cleare and liker to Christall then that of other parts but also by the cleare perspicuity of it For in almost all the sea may the bottome plainly be seene Fourthly we reade the like of the Baltick sea that it neuer ebbes or flowes which Bartholomew Kackerman that countri-man ascribeâ— 1. To the Narrownesse of the channell 2. To the depth of it 3. To the northerne situation which cause I thinke hee might well haue spared considering that more Northerne seas then that both ebbe and flowe Fiftly it is reported of Maotis Pontus and Proppotis that they flowe from the one to the other but neuer ebbe For Maotis flowes into the Pontick sea as from the Higher place into the lower and the Pontick into the Propontick Aegean for the same cause but returne not back againe But besides this cause of this declinity of the ground it standes with reason that the Water should be fresher then that in other places of the sea For first all of them receiue into them many and great Riuers of fresh Water for Maotis Palus besides other partakes of Tanais Into Pontus fall according to Arcanus report about 52 fresh Riuers whereof the chiefe are Ister Hispanis Boristhenes Tanais Phasis all great currents SecoÌ„dly the forenamed fishes which delight in fresh springs are here also found in abundance Besides this freshnesse if wee beleeue ancient writers as Pliny and others it is a sea of extraordinary depth so that for this cause some part of it was called Negrepont or the blacke-sea Which blacknesse was by some thought to arise from the depth of it wherein in many places they could sound no bottome Sixtly it is â—estified of the Tyrrhene Ligurian and Narbon seas that they suffer not this motion The cause of which is onely ascribed to the extreame depth for few or no Riuers are disburthened into it except Rhodanus We are in the next place to shew why this working of the sea is more in one place then in another The reasons whereof although many be thought on are chiefly reduced either to the excâ—sse of saltnesse in the water or the narrownesse of the channell into which from an open place the sea is to be disburthened or the shallownesse of the shore All which either concurring together or taken by themselues apart may cause the sea to swell more in one place theÌ„ another which may as the former bee proued by diuerse Instances Foure Seas are more particularly noted to flow and swell higher then other The first is that compasseth about Europe from Hercules pillars which according to diuerse shores takes diuerse names as the Portugall Cantabrian Gallican Belgicke and British Seas And in the New World or America the Southerne Sea shall be the second The third is that of Cambaia and India The fourth is that which compasseth about Taprobana for the three last the causes fore-specified seeme manifestly to concurre for Taprobana is reported by Pliny to haue a shore not aboue sixe paces deepe and the Sea to be greene and ouergrowne with weeds in so much that the tops of the weedes fret their ships and later Writers report that the Land is knowne to augment the confines by reason of the shallownesse of the Water so as wee haue shewed that some Seas neither ebbe nor flow by reason of the depth of the channell so on the other side must it follow that other Seas ebbe and flow more by reason of the shortnesse and shallownesse of the shores for of contrary câ—uses proceede ordinarily contrary effects Moreouer it